Vibrator



J. F. DORAN F eb. 7, 1933.

VIBRATOR Filed Dec. 29. 1926 A TTORNEY Patented Feb. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES F. DORAN, F DANBURY, CONNECTICUT; JOHN C. DORAN, EXECUTOR 0F WLL 0F SAID JAMES F. DORAN, DECEASED, ASSIGNOR TO SABA C. DURAN, OF DANBUBY,

CONNECTICUT VIBBATOR Application led December 29, 1926. Serial No. 157,653.

This invention relates to vibrators and more particularly to vibrators adapted to be mounted upon the hand to impart to the hand a vibratory movement for massaging purposes.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a device of the above nature which is practical and highly elicient. Another object is to provide a device of the above nature which is not bulky nor clulnsy to handle and which is therefore convenient to use. Another object is to provide a device of the above nature which permits maximum freedom of movement of the hand. Another object is to provide a device of the above nature which is of light weight. Another object is to provide a device of the above nature which is simple and inexpensive. Other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing in which are shown one or more of the various possible embodiments of this invention,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a vibrator mounted upon a hand, a portion of the motor casing being broken away in order to show the inner structure;

Figure 2 is a section taken along the line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view showing an end portion of the motor casing and parts mounted therein, in a modified form of construc- Figure 4 is a section taken along the line 4--4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a modified form of mounting upon the hand;

Figure 6 is a side elevation showing a different form of mounting for the motor;

Figure 7 is a view taken from the lefthand side of Figure 6, parts thereof being broken away;

Figure 8 is a view from the opposite side of Figure 6, and

.Figure 9 is a sectional view similar to Figure 3 but showing a modified construction.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing in detail there is shown in Figure 1 a supporting frame 6 which is mounted through pads 13 and 13e upon the back of the hand. The pads 13 and 130 are of a yielding material such as sponge rubber or felt or the like, and they are preferably secured to the frame 6, for example by split rivets 12. These rivets do not extend all the way through the pads, thereby to avoid coming into contact with the liesh of the hand.

Directly upon the frame 6 is mounted an electric motor, the casing of which is designated by the reference numeral l. Thev frame 6 is preferably made in the shape of a saddle, as shown in Figure 2, to receive the motor casing and, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the motor easing is rigidly secured to the frame by screws 7. Preferably there is interposed between the motor casing and the frame 6 a suitable heat insulating material 14, for example asbestos, which prevents transmission of heat from the motor casing to the frame. The motor is very small and light and is not cumbersome to carry upon the'back of the hand. It is driven at high speed and, through the pads 13 and 13o, it imparts to the hand a rapid vibratory move? ment as will be explained hereinafter.

Any suitable means may be employed to fasten the frame 6 is position upon the back of the hand. In Figure 1 there are shown a pair of straps 25a and 25?) which pass around the hand. These straps a and 255 are preferably of fabric and they may be secured to the frame 6 in any desired manner, for example passing through slots 13a as indicated in Figure 1. If desired, instead of the straps 25a and 251;, coiled springs may take the place of the straps, as is indicated at 25e in Figure 1.

Another method of fastening the device upon the back of the hand is illustrated in Figure 5. The pads 13 and 130 are secured in an suitable manner to a glove 23 having the gprs thereof cut oil'. This Glove is prefera ly made of an elastic materia so that it willstretch to fit varioussized hands and it may be fastened upon the hand by any suitable means such as a strap 23a. Whether the straps 25a and 25?), or s rings 250 or a glove 23 be employed, the orward pad 13 preferably rests on thev back of the fingers near the middle knuckles, and preferably upon only the two middle fingers. When the straps 25a and 251) or the sprmgs 250 are employed, the one associated with the front pad 13 preferably encircles only the two middle fingers, as is shown in Figure 1. When the glove 23 is employed, as shown in Figure 5, the pad 13 is preferably of a width to rest above` the two middle ngers substantially in the position mentioned.

In employing a mechanism of this type for massaging, the massaging is ordinarily done with the fingers, and the mounting just described gives a vigorous vibratory movement to the fingers. When the glove su port 23 is employed the omission of t e glove fingers, as mentioned above and as shown in Figure 5, permits the usual massa'ng action by the fingers of the hand.

e erring again to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown the armature shaft 9 of the electric motor mounted in bearings 8 and 8a at the two ends of the casing 1. Upon this armature shaft is shown the rotor 4 having windings 16, the stator comprising windings 17 supported on the inner wall of the casing 1. The interior of the casing is provided with suitable cooling means preferably taking the form of a fan 3 rotating with the armature shaft, the casing having end openings 15 to permit passage of a current of air through the casing. This motor, it will be understood, is of the induction type so that no commutator or slip rings are employed. The wires for leading current to and from the stator 17 are indlcated entering the top of the casing at 17a and 17?).

As is shown in Figure 1, and more clearly in Figure 2, the rotor 4 is made' so that it will run out-of-balance. As shown in these figures, this is accomplished by cutting away portions of the rotor at 5 on one side of the axis thereof and between the windings 16. The result is that one side of the rotor is heavier than the other, and as it is rapidly rotated this out-of-balance construction gives a rapid vibratory movement which is transmitted through the armature shaft 9, the casing 1 and the frame 6 tothe hand. It will be seen that this construction is extremel simple and inexpensive and that the out-ofalance feature for causing the vibrations is accomplished without. adding any weight to the motor.

In Figures 3 and 4 there is shown a modi- 1a there is mounted upon the shaft 9 to ror tate therewith a radially projecting arm or vweigtht 10. This part 10 is secured to the sha preferably by a key 21 held in place bv a set screw 19 provided with a lock nut 2t). The member 10 gives substantially the same e'ect as do the cut away portions 5 of the rotor shown in Figures 1 and 2. The armature shaft 9 runs out-of-balance and the centrifugal force of the :rapidly rotating parts gives to the motor casing and thence to the hand arapid vibratory movement. The out-of-balance member 10 is preferabl mounted upon the end of the armature sha t which is positioned over the fingers so that this end of the device receives the direct thrust of the vibrations, the other end thereof which rests upon the back of the hand serving as a sort of anchorage about which the finger end vibrates. It will be seen that the construction shown in Figures 3 and 4 is simple and easily made, requiring simply the astening of the out-of balance memer 10 to the armature shaft.

Referring now to Figure 6, in the construction shown therein, the frame 6 is split into two parts, a part 6a to which the front pad 13 is secured and the part 6b to which the rear pad 13o is secured. These two frame parts are connected by a member 30d which is preferably a flat strip of spring metal. The part 30d holds the two frame portions 6a and 6b a art but permits relative movement thereo in an up and down direction while preventing relative lateral movement. By means of this construction the front frame portion 6a and its pad 13 which rests upon the fingers may be given an up and down vibratory movement, while the rear frame portion 6b with its pad 13e remains substantially stationary.

Extending upwardly from the frame portion 6b is a bracket 27 in which the rear end of the motor casing 1 is swiveled about a horizontal axis as by trunnions 27a. Adjacent the front end of the motor casing 1 are a pair of ears 29 through which pass vertical rods 28. These rods are swiveled at their lower ends about pins 30a in lugs 30 projecting upwardly from the frame portion 6a. About the rod 28 beneath the ear 29 is a spiral compression spring 28d which is adjustable by means of a nut 281i threaded upon the rod. About the rod 28 above the ear 29 is a second spring 28a-which is adjustable by means of a lnut 28a.

With the construction shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8, the vibratory movement effected by the rotatin armature shaft of the motor is transmittei to the frame portion 6a and vthence to the fingers through the springs 28a and 28a. As the front end of the motor rapidly vibrates, the motor oscillates about the trunnioizs 27a and the frame portion 6b, which is -supported upon the back of the hand` remains substantially stationary. The full eiect of the vibrations is felt in the tingers where it is most desired. The spring eonneeling member 30d permits this vibratory movement of the front end of the motor. but holds` the motor against side sway. The vibration impulses are transmitted to the haid through the resilient springs 28a and 28d which may be made to cushion the shocks to any desired degree by adjustment of the nuts 28e and 28?). By tightening up these nuts to compress the springs, the severity of the shocks imparted to the hand is increased and, by loosening the nuts, the severity of the shocks is decreased.

Referring now to Figure 9. there is shown another means for effecting the vibratory movement from the rotating motor. There is shown the armature shaft 9 mounted in its bearing 8 at the front end of the motor, the motor casing l heilig extended outwardly about the shaft and in the form of a cap 1b. At the outer end of the shaft 9 is secured by a pin 32a a part 32 having rearwardly extending dogs 3Q?) Whichtake into recesses 34?) o'i a part 34. This member 34 is rotatably mounted upon the outer surface of the shaft bearing 8 preferably through a ball bearing 34a. the inner race of which is held in posit`on upon the part 8 by a collar 33. The member 34 is of greater Weight on one side of the axis of the shaft 9 than on the other side thereof` and therefore runs out-of-balancc. rotatingr with the rapidly rotating shaf; 9. As the member 34 is thus rotated it gives to the part S. and hence to the motor casing, a rapid vibratory movementwhich is ii turn imparted to the hand. It will be seen that this construction relieves the shaft 9 of all strain due to parts running out-of-balance to produce the vibrations, Thus, the strain of the vibrations is removed from the motor shaft. and there 'is no tendency to strain the shaft or increase the friction on the shaft bearings.

A construction such as those herein described wherein the driving motor is mounted directly upon the back of the hand, is distinctly advantageous. The motor may be very small and light and very inexpensive. The ilse of cumbersome flexible driving shafts is entirely done away with, and the device is many times more convenient to handle. The only connection required to the motor consists in the light flexible lead wires 17 a. and 17?). The motor may be very small and light and is very economical to run, being required to drive no long twisting flexible shaft as in the devices commonly in use. Preferably, as shown in Figure 5, there is provided with the vibrator a rheostat 24 comprising, for example, a pivoted arm 24?) adapted to be moved over contacts 24a. By means of this rheostat the speed of rotation of the motor may be controlled. When the device is in use this rheostat may be hung on any convenient support or rested upon a table, and the only parts to in any Way interfere with the manipulation of the vibrator are the light lead wires 17a and 176.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and as many changes lnight he made in the embodiment above set foi-11, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention:

1. A vibrator adapted to be mounted upon the back of the hand comprising, in combination, a frame, a yielding pad secured to said frame and adapted to rest against the back of the hand, means for passing around the hand to hold said frame in position thereon, a rotary electric motor mounted upon said frame, meats rotating Wizh the armature shaft of said motor adapted to give said frame a vibratory movement, and means rotatably supporting said last-mentioned means adapted to prevent transmission of strain to the armature shaft.

2. A vibrator adapted to be mounted upon the back of the hand comprising, in combination, a frame, a yielding pad secured to said frame and adapted to rest against the back of the hand, means for passing around the hand to hold said frame in position thereon, a high speed electric motor mounted upon said frame and including a motor casing and a rotating armature shaft, a bearing member rigidly connected with the motor casing and positioned therein about the armature shaft, and means rotating upon said bearing member and driven from said armature shaft and enclosed within said casing adapted to give said casing and said frame a vibratory movement.

3. A vibrator adapted to be mounted upon the back of the hand comprising, in combination, a casing, a device therein adapted to be driven to give said casing vibratory impulses and positloned adjacent one end thereof, means for driving said device, a support upon which said casing is mounted for swinging movement about an axis adjacent the other end thereof in response to said vibratory impulses, and means for securing said support upon the back of the hand.

4. A vibrator adapted to be mounted upon the back of the hand comprising, in combination, a casing, a device therein adapted to be driven to give said casing vibratory impulses and positioned adjacent one end thereof, means for driving said device, a sup ort upon which said casing is mounted for swinging movement about an axis adjacent the other'end thereof in response to said vibramembers, means for securing said frame tory impulses, means for securing said supmembers upon the back of the hand in spaced port upon the back of the hand, and yielding relation, a pivotal connection between one means through which the vibrations of sai end portion of said motor and one of said casing are transmitted `to said support and frame members, a connection between the opthence tothe hand. posite end portions of said motor and the 5. A vibrator adapted to be mounted upon other of said frame members, and means adthe back of the hand comprising, in combijacent said'last end portion of said motor and nation, a casing,` a device therein adapted to driven thereby adapted to give said motor a be driven to give said casing vibratory imvibratory movement about said pivot. pulses and ositioned adjacent one end there- 11. A vibrator adapted to be mounted upon of, means or driving said device, a support the back of the hand comprising, in combiiipon which said casing is mounted for swingnation, an electric motor, a pair of frame ing movement about an axis adjacent the members, means for securing said frame other end thereof in response to said ,vibra members upon the back of the hand in spaced tory impulses, spring means for limiting the relation, a pivotal connection between one end vibratory movements of said casing, and portion of said motor and one of said frame means for securing said support upon the members, a connection between the opposite back of the hand. end portions of said motor and the other of 6. A vibrator adapted to be mounted upon said frame members, and means adjacent said the back of the hand comprising, in combinallast end ortion of said motor and driven tion, a casing, a device therein adapted to be thereby atlapted to give said motor a vibradriven to give said casing vibratory impulses, tory movement about said pivot, said last a support, means for securing said support connection including spring means throu h upon the hand, and means mounting said which said vibrations are transmitted to said casing upon said support for relative movesecond frame member. ment with respect to said support, said last 12. Avibrator adapted to be mounted upon means including spring means for limiting the Back of the hand comprising, in combinathe VibratOly movements Of Said Casing 1n tion, a. casing`` a. motor in said casing, a motor response to said impulses. shaft for said motor, an eccentric attached to 7 A vibrator adapted to be mounted upon said motor shaft at the front end of the casthe back of the hand comprising, in combinaing, a support upon which said casing is tion, a casing, a device therein adapted t0 be mounted for oscillations about an axis near driven to give said casing vibratory impulses, the rear end 0f the casing in response to via support, means for securing said support bracory impulses induced by the eccentric upon the hand, means mounting Said Casing when rotated, means for attaching the device upon said support, said last means including to the back of the hand connected to said supspring means for limiting the vbratOly port, means for attaching the device to the the back of the hand com rising, in combiniovements of said casing in response to said fingers, and a plate to which said last named impulses, and means for 'adjustlng Sald mea-ns is secured, the plate being located bespring means to change the severity of the low the eccentric and the eccentric being lovibrations imparted t0 Said SUPPOItlDg cated to the rear of the front end of the plate, means by said casing. the front end of the plate being farther from 8. A vibrator adapted to be mounted upon the axis than is the eccentric,

13. A vibrator adapted to be mounted upon nation, a casing, means or mountlng s ald the back of the hand comprising, in combinacasing upon the hand, a Shaft 1n Sald 035mg, tion, an electric motor having frame means means for rotating Said Shaft an unbalnced and a rotor and rotor shaft, means for rotatrotary member mounted t0 IOtate llpOn a ablyl supporting said rotor shaft by said part of said casing, and a driving connection frame means, an unbclanccd rotary member, betweell'said Shaft and. Said member means for rotating said shaft, an unbalanced 9. A vibrator adapted to be mounted upon member upon a part of said frame means the back of the hand Comprising, in C0lI1b and a driving connection between said rotary nation, a casing, means for mounting s aidgmcmber and said rotor shaft, casing upon the hand, a shaft in said o asmg, 14,V A vibrator adapted to be mounted upon means for rotating said shaft, a bearing memthe back of the hand comprising, in combinaber adjacent one end of said casing in Which tion, a motor frame having an electric rotary said shaft is rotatably supported, an unbalelement and a shaft therefor, means for unced rotary member mounted upon the eX- mounting said motor frame upon the hand, tQIiOr 0f Said bearing member, land a drlva member at one end of said motor frame and ing connection between said shaft and said carried thereby and adapted to rotatably supmcmber. port said shaft, an unbalanced rotary device 10. Avibrator ada ted to be mounted upon rotatably supported by said member and a the back of the han comprising, in combidriving connection between said shaft and nation, an electric motor, a pair of frame said rotary device.

megan 15. A vibrator adapted to be mounted upon the back of the hand comprising, in combma tion, a frame, a yielding pad secured to said frame and adapted to rest against the back of the hand, means for passing around the hand to hold said frame in position thereon, an electric motor mounted upon said frame, and means rotating with the armature of said motor adapted to give said frame a vibratory movement, said -motor being mounted to swing relatively to said frame about one end thereof during said vibratory movement.

16. A vibrator adapted to be mounted upon the back of the hand comprising, in combination, a frame, a yielding pad secured to said frame and adapted to rest against the back of the hand, means for passing around the hand to hold said frame in position thereon, a rotary electric motor mounted upon said frame, and means positioned adjacent one end of said motor and actuated by the rotating armature of said motor adapted to give sald frame a Vibratory movement, said motor being mounted to swinr relatively to said frame about an axis adjacent the other end thereof during said vibration.

' 17. A vibrator comprising, in combination, a frame, a yielding pad secured to said' frame and adapted to rest against the back of the hand, means passing around the hand to hold said frame in position thereon, an electric motor, means rotating with the armature substantially at one end of said motor adapted to give said frame a vibratory movement, means rotatably mounting said motor on said frame to provide a relative vibratory motion between said motor and said frame, and means for maintaining said end of said motor in normal position.

18. A vibrator comprising, in combination,

a. frame member adapted to be mounted on the back of the hand, a frame member adapted to be mounted on the backs of the fingers, said frame members being connected togther by a resilient connecting means and ing capable of movement independently of each other, an electric motor secured to said rst-mentioned frame member, eccentric means positioned substantially above said second frame member and adapted to impart vibratory motion thereto when driven, and

means forming a driving connection between said motor and said last-mentioned means.

In testimony whereof, I have signed m name to this specification this 27th day of December, 1926.

JAMES F, DORAN.

cEnrlrlcArE or connEcrioN.

Patent No. l, 896,351. February 7, 1933.

JAMES E. DoRAN, wnosE ExEcUroR or WILL Isjonnc. ooRAN.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 4, strike out lines 3l to 43 inclusive, comprsingclaim 7, and insert the following aa claim 7:

"7. A vibrator adapted to be mounted upon the back of the hand comprising, in combination, a shaft, frame means rotatably supporting said shaft, means for mounting said frame means upon the hand, an unbalanced rotary member rotatably supported by said frame means and independently of said shaft, means for driving said shaft, and a driving connection between said shaft and said member adapted to transmit rotation from tbe formerto the latter, said driving connection being constructed to prevent the reaction upon said shaft of vibratory forces caused by the rotation of said unbalanced rotary member. "z

v Page 4, line 116, claim 13, strike. out the words "for rotating said shaft, an" and insert instead "rotatably supporting said", and line 117, same claim, insert a Acommu after "means'"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections'therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 16th day of May, A. D. 1933.

M. J. Moore.

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

